Artilect Darkhorse Neck Tube

Artilect's Darkhorse Neck Tube - Top Rated Half-Balaclava, Neck Gaiter, Face Mask

Comfortable and versatile, the Artilect Darkhorse Neck Tube excels in the colder months. The Merino wool fabric uses  Nuyarn's spinning technology for enhanced warmth, durability, and quick drying times. The non-itch fabric is soft against the skin and the mesh panel (at both front, and full length at the back) improve airflow.

Scramble's top pick for their Headwear for Dynamic Activities (Half-Balaclava). Here's their take:

Artilect's Darkhorse Neck Tube (DNT) is a light, stretchy, comfortable neck-gaiter / facemask made from a mix of super-fine merino wool (Nuyarn, 91%) and nylon (9%). It solves the ill-fitting issue that plagues many balaclavas: it negates the "flip-top" design choice that some implement poorly and others not at all; and perhaps most importantly, it provides two generous breathing vents (see here), each accommodating both nose and mouth and neither impeding the intake and exhalation of air to any material degree. Unlike the M-Pro, the DNT also features a full-length (back) breathable vent panel, so the neck tube can be swivelled round to increase the vent coverage / access.

Nuyarn's Benefits Over Traditionally Spun Merino

Nuyarn

Traditional spinning twists wool and compresses its otherwise natural air pockets. It introduces tension, loops and restricts the natural movement of the fibres - essentially creating a rope-like structure that can be itchy next to the skin. Nuyarn drafts wool fibres along a high performance filament resulting in two ply yarns with much more volume and aeration. What you get is a much smoother, comfortable next-to-skin surface which has far more stretch and rebound (up to 85% more stretch) negating the need for elastane. Because of the increased loft, Nuyarn dries much faster than traditional spun merino (stated as 5x faster) and has better thermal retention. You can find out more here.

Polyamide (Nylon)

Adding nylon to wool simply adds greater strength and abrasion resistance and further increases drying times.

Features

• Fabric: 91% Nuyarn 185g/sm (Merino Wool) 9% Polyamide (Nylon)
• Mesh mouth panel (front & full length option at back)
• Size: One Size
• Weight: 40 g
• Low profile flatlock seams

Sizing

Due to Nuyarn's excellent stretch (and rebound) this will fit most adult head sizes.